Nurse Techs / Nurse Externs. What do you think of your new job?

I'm interested in hearing how everyone feels about this new experience. For me, it's been a bit crazy at the start, but I am so grateful for the experience. It will make clinicals next semester that much easier. I'll be going from 9 patients to 2 or 1 during a clinical.

I am in my second week of my new externship in the Emergency Department in Dallas. It is the best experience I have had since starting nursing school. I have numerous opprtunities everyday to practice skills (IV, Foleys, blood draws, EKG's, splints, etc.) It's hard don't get me wrong just getting use to the 12 hour adrenaline race is new compared to being a PCT on a Med/Surg floor. I hope to stay there after I graduate.

Jun 4, '09

I love it too! I'm on a chest pain unit so I get MI r/o, post cardiac cath patients and other telemetry patients. I do lots of blood sugars, vitals, set up ECG's, dinner trays and other details. I'm allowed to do blood draws and catheters, but so far the lab takes care of blood draws. I have been able to put in catheters though! My nurses are very good about teaching and letting me do lots of things. Last week she let me do a bubble echocardiogram with the Tech. Very cool, so far this has been a great learning experiance.